Manchester City welcome Real Madrid to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday needing a miracle to progress to the Champions League knockout stages.

The Premier League champions are winless in their opening four group matches and thus need victories from their final two games to have any chance of qualification.

Roberto Mancini may recall Pablo Zabaleta to his starting lineup, having rested the Argentine for the thrashing of Aston Villa on Saturday.

On the opposite side of the City defence, Gael Clichy could miss the match through injury, with Alexander Kolarov likely to deputise.

Mario Balotelli has not been included in City's last two matchday squads but could take a seat on the bench alongside Edin Dzeko, should Mancini choose to partner Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez in attack.

Long-term absentees Gonzalo Higuain and Marcelo are Madrid's only fitness worries after Fabio Coentrao and Alvaro Arbeloa made their injury comebacks this week.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stoppage-time winner in the reverse fixture earlier this season and the Portuguese star will be aiming for more goals when he comes against the club apparently courting his services.

Recent form:

Man City: WWDDWL
Madrid: WWDWWL

Possible lineups:

Man City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Kolarov; Barry, Garcia, Toure; Silva, Aguero, Tevez

Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao; Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema

Sports Mole says: 2-2